Shutter mechanism



April 24, 1951 R. o. DENING SHUTTER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1, 1945Max:207:-

5" WWW flit-22 2463 fatented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICESHUTTER MECHANISM Robert D. Dening, Long Beach, Calif.

Application September 1, 1945, Serial No. 613,996

7 Claims.

This invention relates to shutter mechanism for use in connection withwelders helmets, goggles, and the like.

In the helmets or goggles ordinarily used, the inspection apertures arepermanently closed by a light screening shield, and it is necessary forthe operator to reach up to raise the entire helmet or the goggles abovethe level of his eyes, when unobstructed observation or inspection isnecessary. This isa slow and cumbersome operation, seriously delayingand affecting a smoothly running course of operation.

It is the general object of my invention to provide in such helmet orgoggles a movable light screening shield. More particularly, it is myobject to provide a very light, compact, and conveniently operablemechanism for moving such shield. A further object is to provide aslidable screen which is constructed and connected for movement inresponse to suction and blow of the operators mouth through a tubeattached to the device.

Other objects and the many advantageous features of the invention willbe best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description,and drawings are hereto appended in which preferred forms of theinvention are shown.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a front view of a goggle structure embodyingthe invention, and with parts thereof broken away for the sake ofclearness;

Fig. 2 is an endview of the device with a portion thereof broken away inorder better to illustrate the interior mechanism thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front View showing a somewhat modified form of theinvention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional endview showing the device of the inventionconstructed for attachment to a welders helmet.

The structure of Figs. 1 and 2 comprises right .and left goggles I and2, which functionally may be exactly alike. Description of one will, forthis reason, pertain equally to the other and structural differenceswill be fully discussed below. The general outline of the lower portionof the goggles follows the design of the conventional eyecups, the outersideedges of which are ex- I 2 oblong chamber 1, and the lens isslidably fitted within the lower part thereof.

The upper part of the chamber is shown occupied by an inflatable anddeflatable member in the form of a thin, elastic rubber bag 8, the neck9 of which is anchored in a recess formed at the top of the chamber. Thebottom of the bag is at It! shown cemented or otherwise suitablyfastened to the upper edge of the lens. An air passage II, at the top ofthe framing, communicates with the passage through the neck 9 of thebag, and a light, flexible air hose [2 is suitably fitted into thispassage. The hose terminates in a mouthpiece l3 which the wearer, forconvenience, may retain in his mouth during welding operations.

As stated, the lens normally rests within the bottom of the framing soas to shield the eyes of the welder who, at any time, by suction throughthe hose [2 may draw the lens upward substantially into the positionindicated in Fig. 2. The suction causes the bag to collapse into thedeflated position shown in this view, and it may be found preferable inorder for the bag to fold up evenly and smoothly, to cement the I upperhalf-portion thereof to the casing wall. It

may also be found advantageous to provide a narrow recess M in thechamber wall, within which any minute portion of the bag material maygather when the bag is collapsed to raise the lens. In order tomake-room for the bag material, it is required slightly to enlarge thespace within the upper portion of the chamber,

and when carefully fitted, it is found that the lens will remain inelevated position until, by a.

blow through the hose, it is forced back into normal position.

It was above stated that the two goggle frames may be substantiallyalike, and the only difference is that one of the framesis extended, asindicated at [6, to receive a flexible tubing 11, operatively tointerconnect the two frames. This completes the device, except that aclear-glass lens may be placed in front of the eye shield, substantiallyas indicated at [8 and as usual in practice.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the device of my invention is shown applied to awelders helmet 20 and, in place of two, a single frame is employed tosupport a full width lens or eye shield 2| and clear glass lens 28. Thisframe is made similar to the goggle frame, in two half-portions 22, 23,which may be riveted to the helmet in the conventional manner, or may befastened thereto by means of screws 24, so that it may be taken withoutinconvenience to the wearer thereof and which may be operated by suctionthrough the .mouthpiece, thus leaving both hands fi ee and the eyes ofthe welder fixed on the work. But while the drawings are illustrative ofmy'invention, they do not necessarily represent the best engineeringpractice, and modifications ofshapes and arrangements, within the scopeof the-claim hereto appended, may be embodied therein. :I :claim:

1. A shutter mechanismfor a welders helmet or. goggles comprising, aframing vertically divided into two shallow portions, means for clampingthe two portions together, an eye .shieldinglens fittingly seated withinthe lower portion'of the framing, an inflatable and deflatable memberwithin the upper portion of the framing and operatively connected to theupper edge of ithe lens, there being recesses formed at 'the topof thetwo frame portions to provide a conduitc'ommuriicating with the saidmember, and an air hose seatablein said conduit, said 'hose terminatingin a .mouthpiece, suction "through "which causes the'member to becomedeflated and todraw the lens into the upper portion of t he framing.

12. 'Ash' tter mechanismfor a welders helmet or goggles comprising, aframing vertically div'ide'd into two "shallow half-portions, a lensfittingly seated within the lower portion of the "framinga flat circularinflatable bag mounted within the upper portion of the framing andoperatively connected at'the'bottom thereof to "the upper edge ofsaid'lens, and an air hose attachableZ-to the framing and communicatingwith 'said' b'ag, suction through said hose'causing the bagtobollapseand to draw the lens into the upper-portion of the framing,there being a narrow recess in the inner wallof the framingsubstantially diametrically across the'bag' for receiving any minutesurface material thereof. as

" .the ibagreaches collapsed position.

3. A shutt'er mechanism for goggles consisting .oft'woi'framings,each'comprising a frame verti- 'callydividedinto two shallowhalf-portions providing a single chamber therebetween, an eye :shieldinglens fittingly seated within the lower -portion 'of eachchamber andmovable into the upperportionthereof, an inflatable and deflatablemembermounted within the upper portion of 'eachcha'mber andv operativelyconnected to the i upper edge of the lens seated therein for moving thelens into said upper frame portion,

there beinga recessin the upper portion of one of the frames forming aconduit leadinginto the inflatable member seated therein and a recess 4l traversely extending through the upper portion of the other frame toform a conduit connecting with the inflatable member seated therein, a.

flexible tube operatively interconnecting the two conduits, and aflexible air-tube seated in the open end of the said transverse conduit.

4. A shutter mechanism for a welders helmet or goggles comprising, aframing vertically divided into two shallow half-portions providing asingle chamber therebetween, an'eye shielding lens fittingly seatedwithin the lower portion of the chamber and movable into the upperportion of the chamber, an inflatable and deflatable member-within theupper portion of the chamber and operatively connected to the upper edgeof .said lensfand an air conduit attachable to the framingandcommunicating with said member.

5. A shutter mechanism for a welders helmet .or :goggles comprising, aframing divided into two half-portions providing a single verticallydireotedchamber therebetween, an eye shielding lens fittingly'seatedwithin the lower portion of the chamber and movable intothe-upperportion of the chamber, an inflatable and deflatable member within theupper portion of the chamber and operatively connected to the upper edgeof said lens, and an air conduit attachable to the framing andcommunicating with said member.

6. A shutter mechanism for a welders helmet or goggles comprising, aframing vertically divided into two shallowhalf-portions providing asingle chamber therebetween, an eye shielding lens flttingly-seatedwithin the lower portion of the-chamber, there being an aperture throughthe lower portion of the framing in registration with andsomewhat'smaller than the said lens, an inflatableand deflatable membermounted within the upper portion of the chamber and operativelyconnectedto the pepper edge of said lenaand an air hose attachableto theframing and communicating with said member. 7 v

'7. A shutter mechanism for a welders helmet or goggles comprising, aframing vertically divided into two shallow half portions providing asingle chamber therebetween, means for clamping-thetwo'portionstogether, an eye shielding len flttingly sea-ted within thelower portionof the chamber, there being an aperture through thelower portion of theframing in registration with and somewhat smaller than said lens, aninflatable andvdeflatable mernb er mounted within the upper portion ofthe chamber-and operatively connected to the upper edge of the lens, anair hose attachableto the framing and communicating with said member,and a clear glass lensin the aperture of theframing in 'f'ront ofisaideye, shielding lens.

"RUBERT D. DENING.

Name Date 1,986,688 Thiele Jan. 1,1935

